About

The London Sinfonietta is one of the world’s leading contemporary music ensembles with a reputation built on the virtuosity of its performances and ambitious programming. It is committed to placing new music at the heart of contemporary culture and continually pushing boundaries, regularly undertaking projects with choreographers, video artists, film-makers, electronica artists, jazz and folk musicians. The ensemble is Resident Orchestra at Southbank Centre with its headquarters at Kings Place.

Famed for its commitment to the creation of new music, the London Sinfonietta has commissioned over 300 works since its foundation in 1968, and premiered many hundreds more. World and UK premieres in 2012/13 included, among others, Steve Reich’s Radio Rewrite (a London Sinfonietta co-commission) – a work inspired by the music of Radiohead given its world premiere performance by the London Sinfonietta at London Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in March 2013, David Fennessy’s 13 Factories (UK premiere), Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen’s Run (world premiere) and Renewal by Luke Bedford (London Sinfonietta commission). Forthcoming commissions in 2013/14 include a new clarinet concerto by acclaimed Dutch composer Michel van der Aa (co-commission and world premiere), Ad Marginem by Francisco Coll (LS commission and world premiere) and Seeing is Flux by Edmund Finnis (LS commission and world premiere).

The London Sinfonietta’s pioneering young artist programmes include Blue Touch Paper, a scheme which promotes the next generation of partnerships across a variety of artistic disciplines; Writing the Future, a programme which enables young composers to work with London Sinfonietta musicians as they make new music; and the London Sinfonietta Academy, which gives the UK’s finest young musicians the opportunity to come together to further their performance experience and training in an intensive week-long course.

The London Sinfonietta Label and releases on NMC Recordings and Signum Records present a recordings catalogue of the finest new music performed by the London Sinfonietta. Forthcoming releases in the 13/14 season include George Benjamin Into the Little Hill, Dai Fujikura Double Bass Concerto and Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen Portrait with Theatre of Voices.